Immunotherapies may be used alone or together with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. The immune system is a group of special cells and proteins that protect the body from infection or disease.
Immunotherapies help the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
Depending on what type of lung cancer you have, immunotherapy may be a treatment option for you.
Very common side effects can include nausea, hair loss, decreased appetite, feeling tired or weak, constipation, vomiting, cough, diarrhea, stomach pain, skin rash or itchiness, fever, chills, swelling of the legs, upper respiratory/lung infection, shortness of breath, cough, joint pain, nerve pain, back pain, urinary tract infection, hormone gland problems (particularly the thyroid, adrenals, pituitary and pancreas), elevated liver enzymes (this can be a sign of an inflamed liver), low neutrophils (a type of white cells) and insomnia. When combined with chemotherapy, the very common side effects include: bleeding, high blood pressure, anemia (low red blood cells) – this can cause shortness of breath and tiredness, low white cell count – which can increase the risk of infection, constipation, mouth sores or blisters, low levels of magnesium – which can cause weakness and muscle cramping as well as numbness and pain in the arms and legs.
Please contact your healthcare team immediately if you experience any side effects or symptoms.